5 ms·

If they really have a solution that is safe and they prove it, they will really disrupt the tattoo market. Losing the fear with a solution like this one will ma

If they really have a solution that is safe and they prove it, they will really disrupt the tattoo market. Losing the fear with a solution like this one will make people want more tattoos for sure !

daveguy 10y ago
Safety is definitely the number 1 concern. I'm not sure how long trials will need to run before they can confirm there is no increased cancer risk. Also a concern. If it's gone in a year, what does it look like in 6 months? Are you going to look like you have a nasty blob-bruise for 6 months as the definition fades and the ink migrates?
- jessriedel 10y ago
  There is absolutely no way that they can take enough statistics to prove that there's no increased cancer risk. i don't think we even know whether regular tattoos increase cancer risks.
  - refurb 10y ago
    We don't know a 100% whether current tattoo inks causes cancer, but we have a pretty good body of evidence to suggest they don't. Most tattoo inks are pretty old compounds whose toxicity has been tested (e.g. black ink is carbon black).
  - TheSpiceIsLife 10y ago
    How common is cancer in Australia? In 2016, it is estimated that the risk of an individual being diagnosed with cancer by their 85th birthday will be 1 in 2 (1 in 2 males and 1 in 3 females).[1] According to at least one source[2] 14.5% of Australians have a tattoo. I'm going to go with tattoo ink not being a major cause of cancer. If it were you would expect to see more skin cancers local to the tattoo, or some other particular type of cancer more common among those with tattoos. I think we've got bigger problems than any potential cancer risk form tattoos. Bigger problems like alcohol, cigarettes, benzene in petrol, vehicle exhaust, combustion of coal for electricity, consumption of processed meats - these are all known carcinogens[3]. 1. https://canceraustralia.gov.au/affected-cancer/what-cancer/cancer-australia-statistics https://canceraustralia.gov.au/affected-cancer/what-cancer/c... 2. http://www.disappearink.com.au/post/tattoo-statistics-australia/ http://www.disappearink.com.au/post/tattoo-statistics-austra... 3. http://www.cancer.org/cancer/cancercauses/othercarcinogens/generalinformationaboutcarcinogens/known-and-probable-human-carcinogens http://www.cancer.org/cancer/cancercauses/othercarcinogens/g...
- merqurio 10y ago
  I guess that as long that it just loses color intensity it's not a problem. If it blurs... then well, It's better than nothing and entry barrier less for lot of people.
- zbjornson 10y ago
  Tattoo inks are not regulated by the FDA, so on a regulatory level this isn't a problem, but consumers may be concerned obviously.
  - PeCaN 10y ago
    On the other hand, if they do start giving people cancer or something the FDA probably would step in. The reason they don't currently is (presumably) just lack of evidence that there's a problem. It's probably worth keeping future regulation in mind for them, lest they accidentally get themselves regulated out of business.
- alva 10y ago
  > Also a concern. If it's gone in a year, what does it look like in 6 months? Once the nature of the decay is worked out I could see an awesome opportunity for tattooists to artistically incorporate it for evolving designs.
  - deleted 10y ago
    [deleted]
lamby 10y ago
Or: their current (somewhat negative) properties are actually what drive people to get them..
alva 10y ago
If it is proven safe and they manage to get worldwide patents, they are going to be exceptionally rich.
gjolund 10y ago
If you are scared about getting your tattoo, it isn't the right tattoo.
usrusr 10y ago
I don't expect much impact. People who do not want their tattoo now did want it permanently at an earlier stage. Back then, the permanence was part of the appeal. The implied message of commitment is the selling point, not the direct visual effect. This is very noticeable in the tattoo decision tree: it goes "so I really want a tattoo, where do I want it and which motive?" instead of "so I really want a picture of X on my arm, do I get it painted or do I get it tattooed?"

If they really have a solution that is safe and they prove it, they will really disrupt the tattoo market. Losing the fear with a solution like this one will make people want more tattoos for sure !

daveguy 10y ago

Safety is definitely the number 1 concern. I'm not sure how long trials will need to run before they can confirm there is no increased cancer risk. Also a concern. If it's gone in a year, what does it look like in 6 months? Are you going to look like you have a nasty blob-bruise for 6 months as the definition fades and the ink migrates?

jessriedel 10y ago
There is absolutely no way that they can take enough statistics to prove that there's no increased cancer risk. i don't think we even know whether regular tattoos increase cancer risks.
- refurb 10y ago
  We don't know a 100% whether current tattoo inks causes cancer, but we have a pretty good body of evidence to suggest they don't. Most tattoo inks are pretty old compounds whose toxicity has been tested (e.g. black ink is carbon black).
- TheSpiceIsLife 10y ago
  How common is cancer in Australia? In 2016, it is estimated that the risk of an individual being diagnosed with cancer by their 85th birthday will be 1 in 2 (1 in 2 males and 1 in 3 females).[1] According to at least one source[2] 14.5% of Australians have a tattoo. I'm going to go with tattoo ink not being a major cause of cancer. If it were you would expect to see more skin cancers local to the tattoo, or some other particular type of cancer more common among those with tattoos. I think we've got bigger problems than any potential cancer risk form tattoos. Bigger problems like alcohol, cigarettes, benzene in petrol, vehicle exhaust, combustion of coal for electricity, consumption of processed meats - these are all known carcinogens[3]. 1. https://canceraustralia.gov.au/affected-cancer/what-cancer/cancer-australia-statistics https://canceraustralia.gov.au/affected-cancer/what-cancer/c... 2. http://www.disappearink.com.au/post/tattoo-statistics-australia/ http://www.disappearink.com.au/post/tattoo-statistics-austra... 3. http://www.cancer.org/cancer/cancercauses/othercarcinogens/generalinformationaboutcarcinogens/known-and-probable-human-carcinogens http://www.cancer.org/cancer/cancercauses/othercarcinogens/g...
merqurio 10y ago
I guess that as long that it just loses color intensity it's not a problem. If it blurs... then well, It's better than nothing and entry barrier less for lot of people.
zbjornson 10y ago
Tattoo inks are not regulated by the FDA, so on a regulatory level this isn't a problem, but consumers may be concerned obviously.
- PeCaN 10y ago
  On the other hand, if they do start giving people cancer or something the FDA probably would step in. The reason they don't currently is (presumably) just lack of evidence that there's a problem. It's probably worth keeping future regulation in mind for them, lest they accidentally get themselves regulated out of business.
alva 10y ago
> Also a concern. If it's gone in a year, what does it look like in 6 months? Once the nature of the decay is worked out I could see an awesome opportunity for tattooists to artistically incorporate it for evolving designs.
- deleted 10y ago
  [deleted]

lamby 10y ago

Or: their current (somewhat negative) properties are actually what drive people to get them..

alva 10y ago

If it is proven safe and they manage to get worldwide patents, they are going to be exceptionally rich.

gjolund 10y ago

If you are scared about getting your tattoo, it isn't the right tattoo.

usrusr 10y ago

I don't expect much impact. People who do not want their tattoo now did want it permanently at an earlier stage. Back then, the permanence was part of the appeal. The implied message of commitment is the selling point, not the direct visual effect. This is very noticeable in the tattoo decision tree: it goes "so I really want a tattoo, where do I want it and which motive?" instead of "so I really want a picture of X on my arm, do I get it painted or do I get it tattooed?"